A SOUTHPORT couple have taken refuge in a town centre church after flying back to see their home being demolished.

The pair have been flapping their wings because their roost – which comes with a bird’s eye view across Southport – is being dismantled.

Now the gasometer’s two majestic peregrine falcons have nested in the Holy Trinity Church tower on Hoghton Street – and are understood to be pleasantly surprised with their new surroundings.

The rare birds – who have nested in the Gasometer since the mid-90s – are being monitored by the RSPB, Transco and Merseyside Police as the giant structure is town down after half a decade dominating the Southport skyline.

RSPB warden Graham Clarkson said: "Transco has taken reasonable and legal measures to prevent the falcons from nesting on the gas tower.

"They have moved to Holy Trinity of their own accord and we have monitored their movements. They have been flying between the church and the gas tower and we have seen them hunting over at Marshside.

"The church will be a very good home for them. It is safe, secure and inaccessible. In the next week or so, we will make some minor adjustments to make sure they can breed."

There are around 1,400 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in the UK following strict protection measures enforced after the bird neared extinction in the 1960s.

It has transpired that the falcons had laid four eggs at Holy Trinity, but lost them after they became submerged in water. A blocked drain in the church tower will be fixed to prevent a reoccurrence.

Holy Trinity churchwarden Brian Stone said: "The two falcons will have a very nice home here and they already seem to be enjoying themselves. They hunt pigeons and blackbirds and the remains of their dinner can be seen outside the church quite often."

Peregrines are the fastest animals in the world. They are believed to achieve speeds approaching 200kmh (124mph) when plunging from the sky after prey.

Would you like to win membership of the RSPB? The Visiter is asking people to come up with a name for the town’s majestic falcons.

Then a winner will be chosen by our panel from a shortlist and they will receive a year’s membership of the RSPBworth £35. The pass gets you free entry to more than 100 reserves all over the UK.

Send your entries by email to john.siddle@liverpool.com with ‘Name the Falcons’ in the subject box. Alternatively send your entries to Name the Falcon Comp, Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, PR8 1BT. All entries must be received byMonday, June 8, 2009.